The Samurai

‘The Samurai’ is the definitive study of some of world’s most famous fighters from the heyday of the Heian Period (794-1185) to the inevitable decline that followed the opening of Japan in 1853.

This film explores the extraordinary legacy of martial artistry, ceremony, self-discipline and tenacity in battle of the knights of medieval Japan, an elite warrior class that held the reins of power and the fascination of the people for more than 700 years.

They were the masters of sword and bow, were driven by an unforgiving code of ethics, and they proved ferocious in combat. They beat back foreign invaders and fought each other for land, status, honor and glory.

Modern-day samurai explain the ways of life in the Bushido, while scholars detail the pivotal events in their centuries-long history.